Boys cross country: Hersey, Methner keep cruising
Hersey's big three kept rolling and the Huskies kept humming at the Class 3A Hoffman Estates boys cross country regional on Saturday at Busse Woods.
Junior Josh Methner (14:59), senior Ryan Buch (14:59), and junior Max Svienty (15:20) went 1-2-4 powering the Hersey to its second consecutive regional title and eighth overall with 40 points.
Rolling Meadows put a bit of pressure on Hersey taking second with 44 points, followed by Glenbrook South (54 points), Prospect (135 points), Fremd (154 points), and Glenbrook North (186 points).
All six teams will advance to Class 3A Hoffman Estates sectional next Saturday at Busse Woods with the race scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m.
A gusty wind greeted the runners on Saturday morning, but it didn't slow down the Huskies' attack.
Methner, Buch, and Svienty set the tone powering the Mid-Suburban League champions to another big victory.
"They looked good," said Hersey coach Kevin Young, who held out a chunk of his varsity squad. "The goal was to stay together through two miles, after that if they wanted to go they could go."
And the Huskies ran the plan to perfection as Methner, Buch, and Svienty went through the two-mile mark holding the top three spots.
"I'm at a good point right now," said Methner, who won the MSL title last weekend. "The race went the way I wanted it to, same for the team."
Sophomore Luis Vazquez (16:00) ran an inspired race in taking 11th place, with sophomore Quinn Born (16:15) completing the Huskies' scoring by taking 22nd place.
"We're feeling good," said Buch of the Huskies' run. "We wanted to pack it up and work off each other in the wind and make it as smooth and efficient as possible, and that's what we did."
Rolling Meadows is starting to make some noise. The Mustangs finished third in the MSL and kept it going on Saturday with another big performance.
Senior Eddie Lennon (15:12) took second place, with sophomore Stephen Barretto (15:34) adding a sixth-place finish.
"I thought we did well," said Lennon, who has ignited the Mustangs all season. "Our pack stuck together and that is something we've been working on."
Senior Nate Orlyk (9th place, 15:54), junior Jack Martin (10th pace 15:55), and senior CJ Miller (16th place, 16:04) kept the back pack close for the Mustangs.
"They all ran well, they kind of knew what they had to do," said Rolling Meadows coach Frank Schweda of the Mustangs, who never qualified for a state meet. "The goal we've talked about all year is to do stuff Rolling Meadows cross country has never done before."
The Mustangs will get their chance add to their list next Saturday.
Prospect senior Erik Snell (15:32) took fifth in pushing the Knights to a fourth-place finish. Freshman Andy McNally (16:16) aided the Knights with a 24th place finish.
"We struggled with some injuries this season," said Snell, "We had guys coming in and out, so our goal today was just to make sure we got the team to sectionals."
Fremd junior Jack Wolski (16:10) and junior Kaede Kokubo (16:11) went 19-20 in helping the Vikings qualify with a fifth-place finish.
Conant junior James Preucil (15th place, 16:03) was the top individual qualifier.